The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-20

such as the abolition Of interest, the placing of
all railroads and telegraph lines in the hands Of
the government the formation of a new labor
party. which is to wipe both the other parties
out of existence the establishment of a system
that will prevent mankind from being either
rich poor; and last but not least, the election
of its leader to be master workman OF the
Knights of Labor. This is pretty big pro-
gramme but the three leaders in district as
sembly No 40, are fond of big programmes.
Three mon practically control the workings OF
this remarkable organization. These are
Thomas B. Mcguire, of the general executive
board of the knights of Labor, James E. Quinn,
present master workman of No. 49, and Victor
Drury
Mcguire is tall, good-looking man. who wears
a SLOUGH hat and hair a la Buffalo Bill. He loves
secrecy and mystery. and hates a newspaper re-
porter. The most insinuaring scribe can never
get him to talk, except in the way of denuncia-
ton OF the s'capitalistic press" He once had
grand scheme to call a.mass meeting of lOO,OoO
men in Union square by means OF secret cir
cular to the various assemblies of the knights OF
Labor. He thought that the sudden assembling
of such vast crowd, without warning to the
press or police would cause great sensation.
And it would have caused a sensation had not
couple of reporters, by intuition or otherwise,
got an inkling of the scheme and spoiled It,
They have spoiled others equally well laid, and
Mr. Mcguire has no love for them He was
originally Greenbacker, and is still, for aught
know to the contrary. His present great am
bition is to succeed Powderly master work
man of the Knights of Labor.
James E. Quinn was also Greenbacker, and
is now an advanced Socialist He is fifty years
old, of medium height passable in appearance.
and is as mysterious as Mcguire himself. He
wants all property to be held in common. and
general idea of his policy may be gained from
the following sentence. to which he gave utter
ance in Union square the other night:
whether we are defeated or NOT we shall in
f1ict such terrible lesson the capitalist and
business man that they will have guarantee
of any business being carried through in the
future. It is turmoil ana obstruction until we
get what we want"
There may be those who may think that the
leader who thus proposes to upset all guarantees
of business safety is not wise counselor of
workingmen who have to depend business
prosperity for existence. Nevertheless, he is
practically dictator of about thirty thou
sand workingmen in New York city and the
suburbs.
Victor Drury. the remaining member of this
| interesting trio, is the pamphleteer and wire
puller of No 40. It has been said that he makes
the balls and has Mcguire and Quinn to fire
them. But at any rate he remains in the back
ground He is more Communist than either
of his colleagues. If he had his way the
! Knights of Labor would be formed on the plan
of some of the societies of Europe, which are so
secret that no member or officer knows his i'm
mediate SUPERIOR, and where signs and grips
and cabalistic characters are the means by
which business is transacted. This would not
| be exactly in consonance with American ideas,
| but it is highly doubtful if Victor Drury has a
very high regard for American ideas.
| There are few indications just at present
| that the heretofore invinciole No. 40 has begun
to lose its grip. 1t has not Jared well in its war
upon the capitaistic press; its latest strike is not
| progressing it's leaders might wish it to. In
addition, the rank aud file of the workmen over
| which it has domineered are beginning to rebel
| Absolutism may be carried too far and in their
| enthusiasm, the leaders of No 40 have not OBJ
| served the extent to which they have gone with
| it. JOHN FITZGERALD.